August 22, 2016

A Celebration of Life for J.W. (Hobo) Hembree, 80, of Hartselle was Thur., Aug. 25, at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Gary Linville and Chuck Bass officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.

Burial was in Johnson Chapel Cemetery.

Mr. Hembree died Mon., Aug. 22, 2016, at Decatur Morgan Parkway Medical Center. He was born Dec. 27, 1935, in Lawrence County to James Henry Hembree and Thelma Veona Lindsey Hembree. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army and retired from Champion Paper Mill, where he worked in maintenance. He was a member of Shoal Creek Baptist Church, where he was very faithful to its congregation. He served as youth director, Sunday school director, usher, teacher and other various duties in the church.

Mr. Hembree was inducted into the Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame and was a graduate of Speake High School. Affectionately known as “Hobo”, he was greatly loved by his wife, children and grandchildren, as well as all of his friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Mitzi Hembree; two brothers, Jerry and Bobby Hembree and a sister, Hilda Reeder.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Maxine Nelson Hembree; three sons, Gene Hembree (Marge), Jeff Hembree (Leah) and Lance Hembree; four brothers, Fred Hembree, James Hembree Jr., Billy Joe Hembree and Doug Hembree; a sister, Lola Warren; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Jake Hembree, Wesley Hembree, Ben Kelly, Michael Drew, Jonathan Pool and Jon Austin Turner.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Alabama Alzheimer’s Association.